Improvement in hoop-skirts



UNITED STATES EEICE.

PATENT IMPROVEMENT IN HOOP-SKIPLTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,070, dated November 15, 1864.

To @ZZ whom it may concer-n:

Be it known that I,FREDEE1CK S. Orts, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented and made a certain new and useful Improvement in Skeleton Skirts; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the said invention, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this speciiication, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation of my skirt, showing a portion of the covering for the ends of the bustle-hoops removed. Fig. 2 is a rear view of said skirt, and Fig. 3 is a section in largersize of the clasp uniting the ends of the hoops, and Fig. 4t is an elevationof said clasp.

Similar marks of reference denote the same parts.

The nature of my said invention consistsin an improved mode of covering and uniting the ends ot' the bustle-hoops at the sides ot' the opening left in the front of thel skirt, whereby greater strength and durability are obtained, and the hoops are not so liable to prot-rude through the covering at their ends as heretofore. I also unite the hoops forming the loweror skirt portion by means ot' apeculinr clasp applied at the back part ofthe skirt.

In skirts for ladies, those hoops that are not united at their ends are known as the bustlehoops,77 and theirends have heretofore usuallyT been united by a tape running up the sides of the opening left at the front and upper part of the skirt. In consequence of the ends of said bustle-hoops being more or less rough or projecting from the upright tapes, and thereby liable to scratch the person or become entangled With the hair in putting the skirt on, said ends have been covered With kid, thin leather, and similar materials. This is costly on account of the amount of material required, and is not sufficiently strong.

I unite the ends of the bustle-hoops a to the tapes b b by the clasps, as usual. I the-n provide a strip of strong woven fabric, c,and stitch upon it a strip of kid, d, or similar maferial, and fold it double, as seen in Fig. 5, and place the same over the ends ofthe bustlehoops and the tape b, and secure the said woven fabric c to the hoops by small clasps or spangles, as at l l. This woven strip is attached to the belt at 2, and may have a line of stitching` upon the edge of the fold, as at 3. rlhis covering for the ends of the bustle-hoops is much stronger and more durable than those heretofore employed, and at the same time is cheaper.

The hoops c of the skirt are not lapped, but brought end to end at the back of the skirt, where they are united by the clasp j', that is cut out of sheet metal in the form represented in Fig. 4.

The central lips, 4 4, are turned down, and inclose the ends of the hoop where they come up to each other, and the teeth 5 5 are turned down upon and penetrate the braided covering of the skirt-wire, and eft'ectually prevent the wires being pulled out of the clasp. .This character of clasp receiving the skirt-wire where the ends come up to each other is preferable those clasps that secure the ends where they lap over each other, because the clasp does not form a projection upon the Wire, but the wire is almost as smooth as at any other points.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Forming the covering to the ends of the bustle-hoops, where they are attached to the tapes of a woven fabric secured to the tapes and hoops by small clasps or spangles, and having a strip of kid or similar material, at the edge of said covering, as specified.

2. The clasp f, formed in the manner specified, and securing the hoops Where they are brought end to end, in the manner set forth.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my signature this 7th day of October, 1864.

FREDERICK S. OTIS.

Witnesses LEMUEL W. SERRELL, Trios. GEO. HAROLD. 

